Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-21
AMso.Ec- Cnfciscrs.

Two instances have recently appeared
in cur columns OF that strange aud
sanGuinary custom of the East called
cunning amuck." Running amuck -
is a phrase derived from the Malay
word "amok" C"killing >, and CON
stltutes a well-maTked ny sterical alice
ton of certain races inhabiting Orien-
tai countries. 1t is rarely, ii ever,
manifested among the quiet-temperc1
Hindus, and bat seldom among the
Indian Mussulmans, while, whenever it
does occur in Hindostan, the malady
may generally be traced to the abuse
of opium or the extract of hemp called
bhang, ganja, or charras. The Hindu
tobacconist sells a special CONNECTION
made up Of bhang, opium, datura,
cloves, mGStic, cinnamon. and carda-
NUNS, which is mixed with milk and
sugar and eaten as swoetneat. This
diahoiical cake-knOwn as maJum-wiil
drive a nan mad about rs soon as any
thing. With the Malays, however, who
have given a name to the terrible men
tai alteration of which We speak and
who ore by far the most addicted to it
of al eastern peoples, there is seldom
any such explanation Of the outbreak.
Suddenly, without rhyme or reason,
man will spring up from his shop
board or couch, draw his kris the
wayc-bladed dagger which they all
c0rIy-and, with scream of "Amok .
AmOk strike its point into the heart
of the nearest Nayfarer and dart down
the crowded bazaar like the lunatic
which he is, stabbing ana cutting on
all sides. "Amo. Amok - ochoe,
from a hundred mouths, and every
ECdy huuics tor place Of reiu{e,
f,Gug ia 81 CIr,ctions, except those
b,i3r spirits who snatch up vaspoas
OF C,f,noe add join the armed lAr3ag
which pnI'ucs the desperate. rle
path q tie ci cs- is soon etrowl with
bodies OF men. women. and ch.lir,n,
decd or bleeding to death, untL some
lucky shot or sar,ng thrust dlslb.,s tna
murderer, Who rs pierced with o dozen
blades az soon as Ae fails to the ground.
Ccca .ouslly it tsrna ont thar tAa
"snoEtr' has rec,i;ei Sosse pcrsoni
alrCat or injury or was hoDlcssly ia
dcLt cg disappointed in love but more
commonly there is nothing WHAT d
account Tor the Wild fury of his pro
cecjiuSs. anG the stree-sE,c p"gs dag
lis carcass aUay as carcl.s-iy as ii
leopard Lad been slain in the public
streets. SO ordinary, indeed, is the
occurrence that in many towns and
cities where there live, large Malay
population an instrument is kept in
readiness at every police-stltion called
tie "amokcr catcher" It is some
thing like an eel spear with Il very long
handle, and 50 contriyed that two elias
tic-pointed spikes close round the mad
mans neck and aecure him helple.-ly
vixen the iron prongs are pushed
against bis nape from behind.
Neither rank nor wealth keeps a Ma
lay from this sudden access Of homi-
cidal mania if be- las the predisposi,ion
or has been greatly excited. There vas
an instance at Salatiga. in the island on
Java, where the Regent was celebrating
tie marriage Of two OF his daughters,
and everybody wss in a festive and
Joyous mood. Just, however, at the
Cay,st moment OF the ceremonies the
REGENTS brothcr-in-law. a high Official,
CINE rushing through the procession,
stabbing everybody he could get at
with his ieweiled kris. The Regent
himself, coming up to inquire into
a.. ISL. Z -
gle thrust, and it was tie bro
ther OF the Prince who ran the
" moher' through the back with a
-poer and brought hen down, yet not
before lie he'd slaughtered nine Of the
palace people and wounded SIX others |
more or less severely. 1t might be
supposed that race subject to such fe-
rocioLs fits would be naturally excitl-
be and nervous in manner but tle |
contrary is the case. The Malay is Of |
oil iuon the most quiet. digalhcd. aud /
slow OF speech and action in his orli-
nary life. BE seldom speaks loudly |
Of quickly, has the most courteous AMI |
even gentle deMesnOr, and Quureis |
very rarely with his fellows. Yet he Is
coidly and silently cruel; has no re- |
gard for human lie. and derives from
tie Aohsmmedan faith, which lac pro- /
ftsscs. is bittcrest AID most relentless I
Cogmas. Once started on the death /
run ly insult, despair, or some brain
trouble. his only thought is to "Aill. |
and Kill, and Kill, and in the fierce OK |
ultation OF his insanity he does not f-el
the blow which lets out his burning
blood and puts stop to his dreadful
career.